Power feed stoker



April l, 1930- G. A. KoHoUT 1,752,801

PO'NER FEED STOKER File'd Aug. 28. 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 1, 1930. G. A..KOH: UT 1,752,801

POWER FEED STOKER Filed Aug. 28. 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 APil 1, 1930. G. A. KoHoUT 1,752,801l

` POWER FEED sToKER Filed Aug. 28. 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 April 1, 1930. G. A. KoHoUT 1,752,801

POWER FEED STOKER Filed Aug. 28. 19244 e sheets-sheet 4 April1,193o. Y@.A. KOHOUT l 1,752,801

4POWER FEED sToKER Fi1 ed Aug. 28. 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 April 1, 1930, G. A. KoHouT POWER FEED STOKER Filed Aug. 28, 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet Y@ Z j, @W v Patented Apr. k1,1930

UNITED; sra-res- GEORGE A.K.0H.Q.UT; r` CHICAGO, iLLrNois Bowan FEED ys'roKEn ApplicatiowledAugust 2S, 1924,' Serial No. 734,731.

My invention relates to strikers, andmore particularly' to aV powerfoperated hopper, feed stoker.

Itis a purpose ofmyinvention toprovide a 5 power feed 'stoker that may also be operated by hand ifdesired andA preferably the stoker comprises a plurality of feeding units, each Vof which mayrbe operatedindependently of the others.

It is more particularlya purpose of myinvention to provide a Stoker comprising a plurality of pusher members,each of which is reciprocable to feed fuel into afurnace with power driven means for reciprocating the same; and with means for operating the same by hand, saidV pusher means being operable either by power or by hand as desired and being operable independently of each other, that is, any one of the pushermembers may be operated `by hand independently of the power drive for the other members or any one of the power driven members may be operated whether theother power driven members are in operation or not; f

Itis still afurther purpose of the invention to providemeans whereby any` obstruction in the path of one of the power driven pusher members will not have any leect on any of the other power driven pusher members, nor on lthe power driven operating means for said pusher members.

More particularly, it is apurpose of my invention'to provide means for feeding fuel to furnaces from hoppers comprising pusher blocks operable below the open bottom of the hopper and toward and away from the openingintothe furnace to thus accelerate the movement of fuel from the hopper to the furnace through the furnace opening and to provide driving means for reciprocating said pusher blocks comprising a yrotatable yshaft havin-gramsv or eccentrics thereon that are adapted to co-operate with levers comprising` portionsextending on both sides of said cams y or eccentrics or embracing the same whereby the rotation'of the shaft causesv said portions toV be rockedbr oscillated thereby reciprocatingthe blocks.

Itis l ay further Obj ect' vof my invention to 'provide for; relativeqmovement, between,v said cam embracing portions and toprovi-de means for yieldingly` connecting said portions together, one of said lever portions being connected to positively movethe reciprocating pusher block associated therewith in one direction and theother ofsaid lever 4portions being connected therewith through yielding means to move the pusher block-inthe opl posite direction. Y

It-is a further purposeof:theinvention to provide means for adjusting the stroke of :the reciprocable member due to the -action ofthe power driven means, said adjustingy means comprising an adjustable stop memberV for adjusting the normal separation-of thecam engaging portions of the rockablemember, the tension of the springs acting normally to hold the parts at such a spacing as is determined'by said adjustable stop member.

It is a further. purpose of the invention to provide a positive,'fixed stop meansfor limit ing the movement of the two cam oreccentric engaging portions of` theforked membertoward'each other so as to make it impossible to adjusttheqdevice so that both portions of the member will be in engagement with opposite sides of its camV or eccentric, thus avoiding the spring pressure over a large portion ofthe surface of said eccentricsorcams andzavoiding unusual Astrain on thedriving mechanism duejto said friction. l 7

lt is still a furtherpurposeofthe invention to provide a fuelfeeding `devicecomprising pusliei'blocks that'are adapted to feed fuel from a hopper to av furnace by reciprocation ofthe blocks below the open bottom of the hopper toward and away from the furnace opening with means for adjusting the range of movementof thegpushern blocks so as to determine the vends of the stroke thereof whereby the size ofthe fuel feedingiopening from the hopper maybe regulated by adjusting said blocks.

It is a further purpose of the invention to provide means for detachablyrconnecting 95 the above mentioned rockable members so. thatl the pusher blocks can be operatedby hand independently of the power driven means when desired. When`- said pusher blocks are` operated., by. hand, thesamermay be moved to a position to close the furnace opening and thus prevent burning backof the fire into the hopper, this being done when the fires are banked. It is another purpose of the invention to provide means for operating reciprocable pusher blocks so that the same `will always remain in line even if the load on one side of the block is greater `than on the other, that is, assuming that a lump of coal would be at one side of the pusher block from the center line thereof making the resistance against the pushing of the block greater on that side of the block than on the other side thereof, the meansprovided will prevent the blocks from being pushed out of line due to this condition. i i

It is still another object of the invention to provide the jaw or eccentric engaging `faces of the arms co-operating with said eccentrics with hardened surfaces and to further provide anti-friction mea-ns on the cams or eccentrics.

`Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description of the accompanying drawings proceeds. However,

' I desire to. have it distinctly understood that I do not intend to limit myself to the exact details shown or described, but that I intend to include as partof my invention all such obvious changes `and modifications of parts as would occur to a person skilled in this art and as would fall within the scope of the claims.

Inthe drawings:

Fig. l is a fragmentary view in front elcvation of a furnace showing my improved fuel feeding mechanism applied thereto;

Fig. 2 isa fragmentary longitudinal sectional `view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section showing the device adjusted for manual operation, said section being taken on a line corresponding to the line 3 3 of Fig. 4; showing a modified form of pusher block; j

Fig. 4is a fragmentary top plan view of one of the modified pusher blocks and the operating means therefor, corresponding to the Voperating Vmeans in Figs. l and 2 and showing aportion of the shelf-like member upon which the pusher block operates;

Fig. V5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed view partly in elevation and partly in section of a portion of the operating means showing the `forked member adjustedso as to make the stroke ofthe pusher block as great as possible;

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the parts adjusted to producea smaller stroke ofthe pusher block; p j Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal section showing the jaws of the forked member separated due to yielding of the spring between the same when the pusher Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the rockable Y.

yoke connected with the pusher block;

j Fig. 10 is a similar view of a fragment of one ofthe arms of the forked member;

Fig. ..11 is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly in elevation of the memu bers shown in Figs. `9 and l() in co-operating relation showing the stops for limiting the adjustment of the adjustable connection between `said members;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of a modilied form of the invention;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary front elevation of the device shown in Fig. l2; and

Fig. `14 is an enlarged detailed view of the mechanismshown in Fig. 12 adjusted so as to reduce the stroke of the reciprocable pusherblock.

Referring in detail to the drawings, in Fig. 2 is shown a furnace provided with a Stoker grate which is operated in any suitablemanner and to which the fuel is being fed. The Stoker grate is mounted in a furnace 2l provided with an arch 22 which is Shown as being of a flat type but which may be of any desired construction and which has a front wall portion 23 extending above said arch. The furnace is further provided with a wall portion 24 of refractory material which is mounted on a suitable metallic framework 25 and which is provided with an upper inclined portion 26 which merges with a more sharply inclined portion 27 leading to the stoker grate 20. Mounted on the inclined surface 26 is a metal plate 28 forming a shelf-like portion and above said shelf-like portion is provided a fuel hopper 29, which it will be clear from Fig. l, is provided with inclined side wall portions 30 and with an inclined bottom 31.

Thebottom 3l terminates at a spaced distance from the inclined shelf-like portion 28 and at a spaced distance from the arch 22, thus providing a fuel feeding opening 32 in the bottom of the hopper between the block 33 of refractory material att-he forward end of the arch 22 which is provided with an inclined face 34 forming a portion of the bottom of the hopper and with an undercut inclined face35 to provide for the more ready `passage of the fuel through the opening 32 toward the fire box of the furnace 21. The

member 33, the arch 22 and the member 24 define an opening 36 forming the fuel feed- @baffes @,ndrwil-Iebe mvghkiinw a; 1

@man letfmgingf4 arivmbmy flier of entrics 1' ori eamsf 50S icorrsesponi to having un opening @therein ehrbugh-which memw 7e? 1 is" mutui; Q The: and

portion 78 of the member 76 projects between the bifurcations 67 of the member 60 and eugages with a shoulder 7901i the member 59. It will be evident that by adjusting the meinber 76, the amount that the` springs 71 vwill close the j awsformed bythe members 59 and 60 can be adjusted. Itlwill also be evident `that the amount of swinging or rocking of the members 59 and 60 will depend upon the spacing between the fingers or jaws GBand 65 of said members on opposite sidesof the leccentrics 50. Thus, if the parts are adjusted as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, which show the adjustment ofthe `screw 76-such that `the i members 74 and-` 7 5 will `come `intoengagedue to the `action ofthe cams 50associated therewith will be less than that for the adjustment shown in Figs. 5 and. Y

' yThe shaft, 58 also` has freelyv rotativel mounted thereon yoke members 80, one of which is shown alone inFig. y9. Each yoke member-80 is providedwith a pair of bearing portions 81 having openings 82 forreceiving the shaft 58 and'is provided `with-a cross bar 83` connecting the bearing portions 81, the cross bar 88 having an opening 84; therein that screw-threadedly receives the screw-threaded adjusting member 85 having a head 86for turning the same. The end portion 87 of the member 85 is adapted -toengage in the grooves or notches 88 provided between the ribs or teeth89 `on themember 59, associated therewithand it will thus beseen that the amgularity,` of the member 8O relativetothe member 59 can be adjusted by turning the screw 85 into any desired one of the notches or grooves `88. In order to preventthe adjustment of the member 18O` into such a position that the screwl 85 would be located on the forward side of theface 90 offoremost tooth`89, stoplugs 91 are provided on the member 59 whichxare adapted tocooperate with a pair of depending stop `lugs 92 provided on the member 83 aswill be clear from Fig. 11. When the lugs 91 and 92 are in engagement, it will be seen `from Fig. 11 that it is impossible to move the `screw 85 in front of the last tooth 89 as `the same cannot be moved `past the outer` edge of the tooth89 when the stop-lugs' arein engagement.`

i This arrangement is `of importance, as the adjustment of the member 80 too far counterclockwise onthe shaft 58 relative to the member..59 would cause damage or breaking of `certain parts of the'device due to the action of the cams in rocking thefmember 59 so `as to move the member 80 counter-clockwise on said shaft 58. This will be evidentupon 95 and through openings 98 in the members 93. The link members 93 are further connected `withthe ears 99 provi-deden opposite sides of the ,center line of the pusher blocks 7 0 extending through theopenings 97 in the ears 37 `b means ofthe pivot pins 100. It will be evi ent upon reference to Fig. 5 that if the member 8H0is swung too far counter-clockwise relative to themember 59, the links 93 will engagewiththecross bar 83 causing either a breakage of parts of the moving mechanism or causing damage to the hopper or other parts `adjoining the pusher blocks due t0 an upward tilting of said pusher blocks.

Themember is provided with an enlargement or boss 101 from which a rod or pin 102 projects upwardly which is adapted to re- 'ceive a piece of pipe or other tubular member 193 servingas a handle for rocking the member `80 and thus j reciprocating the pusher blocks,37 `by hand. This is done by moving the member into a position out of engagementwith the notches 88 which is the positionthereof shown in Fig. 3 and in Fig. 11. When the member 85 is in this position, it will be clear that the member 80 is disconnected from the member 59 and can be rocked or oscillated above 4the shaft 58 independently of the ower drive mechanism, of which the mem er 59 is a part. Upon reference to Fig. 1, it will also be evident that any one of the pusher blocks can be actuated by handV at any time desired, altho the power drive may be otherwise actuating the others of said pusher blocks by merely adjusting the screw 85 so as torelease the particular yoke 80 connected with the particular block 37 or 137 that it is desired to operate by hand from the power driven mechanism associated therewith.

When the power driven mechanism is operating the pusher blocks, the cams or eccentrics 50` which rotate in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figs. 5 and 8 engage with themembers 60 and 59 alternatingly to move .the pusher lblocks in a direction to feed fuel into the furnace and in the opposite direction respectively. It will be seen that the lengthof the stroke of the pusher blocks can be Aadjusted by means of the adjusting screws 7 6 by varying the angular movement of the members59 and 60 due to the action vof the cams` or eccentrics 50. It will also be seen that by providing the adjusting means of the angularitybetween themembers 80 and 59, the `position of the pusher blocks at the beginning andthe ending of the stroke can be adjusted; Thus, the amount of opening provided 'in the bottom .of the hopper can be adjusted by adjusting they screws 85 as the amount of fuel fed through the opening will llO inea-soi more :completely .closing the same .and I.the

amount of opening in the bottom of the. hopperwvilldecreaseand .the closing of .the opening .36 will .come .more .complete for each notch- 88. thatthe screw 85 .is moved toward the right.in,Ei`g.'..5. .Itwillalsobe `evident due .to .the,construction 4of.. the members `59 and160 .and .the resilient connections. 711between the; sameJ-.thatpthei retractile .movement ofthe pusher blocks .veillbe positive due to the ,positive .engagement of the. members `59 vvi'th.the. ,members 8OY but that v the .feeding movement or movement of the npusher blocks toward. .the firey boxef the "furnace will; be yielding due :tothe I,yielding.connection between .the member. .60 .and .theY member. 59. assoeiatedvvith each of 4the-,pusher blocks. The springs 71 arent such.v anV unextendedlength that: normally .the stop. 79. will be engaged by thescreW'tG or. the stop'7 5 -Withthe stop 74 when thepartsare adj usted tosucha position thatthese stopscan engage.

Thezsprings 71 lill normally not v .yield during theffeeding movement: .of the pusher blocks .an'd.,the .amonnt :of fuel fedffor Athe stroke of the pushenblocks .willbe directly dependentlupon, the ...adjustment .of theamember Y76 ..1.butxif..any obstruction,. .such as is shown ig.: 8 1 inllvvhichalump. ofhard Y material, such .as slate y1or stone indicated .by

the xnumeral 104k .is shownfasbeing wedged between ...the .block 33.. and. the pusher block 137) gets". fin the.. Way oifa.pusher bloekfthe springs .71 .will yield in? the .manner shown .in F;i:'g.f8.,y Thexscrevv 76 .Will then moveout of engagement` vvvi'th. the stop 79 and ,the j aws 65....and'163 .will separateso .that the; ,cams or eccentricsfOyvill rotate VWithfthefshaft 39, althoughlthepimovement of the pusher .block 137 isstopped by theobstruction'104. Thus, .the obstruction or interference'A with the movementof ione of lthe` pusher` .blocks will creased friction between. thefmember 65 and therollery 55 .causedby the additional pressureeof..thesprings 7 1. p

V`..'l`he=ca1ns :.50 t.are provided with suitable openings 105 in thefsides thereof to permit the dirt to `drop outoflthe same,.thus.prev.enting any dirt that .might enter 4the 4.openings .5.3 from remaining thereinto interfere vvithlthe operation. of the rollers.

Instead of providingthefblocks. 37 Withthe iet'raetorylining 48;.zasshown .in Eig. ,2, the blocks may *be inadefhollow.' as .shown in'Fg. 8in .ivhicha front Wall .portion -106.is pro vided integral .with the main .body portion `of the. block 137, said .ivalllbeingpiovided `with ventilating openings 107.for cooling the' metallicwa-ll .106.

In Order to prevent the movement of the pusheiblocls in toivard the. furnace too far, which might cause. damageto .the.arch or otherbrick Workoi the furnace, the members 80av areprovided each Withfaforwardprojection or nose108 on eachside thereofivhichis adapted to" engage. with thegforxvard endI 109 of the plate28vvhen1the partsare inthe posif tion shown Fig. 2 to limit the inwardmove.- ment .of .thepusher blocks. This ,will prevent the inwardrn1ovement .too far by hand..a`nd also. if thea-adjustment of the .device should penmitthis, the inwardmovement .too far due to thepovver driven means asithe engagement ofthe memberlOS Withthelnember 109,Wi11

`ment ofthevpusherblocks.

VIn order .to ...properlyrspace the Apusher blocks V,37 .or 4113.7 relative toa ea ch. .o.ther and alongthe shaft.. 58, rtherollars -110..are...pro vided fon the .shaft 58 for. holding ;the..mem bers 80 in proper. spaced relationshipthereon, certain ofithebearings co-.o-perating thereivitlnasvvillbeclearromEig.:1. Duetogthe arrangement .ofthe `link :members Gnarnns 93 on opposite sides of the yokes 8O pivotallyfengag Witntherears 99.-.on .opposite sides of theycenter. line of pusherl ,blocks,..the. pusher blocks will.: 7 always r .move, in @a ,Stra-ight line .and willfthns alwaysfexerna, straight puslnon the. fuel. andivillnotengage with' each: other due to, any swingingfout oi line. or-.sideward movement. thereof. j y

.ln`lligs l'2, 13and14: is shown-a. dierent vform .of actuating v.mechanism onthe pusher .blos-ks 37..ivl1icli correspond-dn.. construction to Vthe pusher blocks 37. Said pushertbloeks are feither. .reciproemtedbyhand means of the handle 111 1.or ib y ...means @f the :power driven Vshaft 39liavingthefeecentrics orcams .50 thereon .corresponding toi-the ,cams-50i in 1 :to .1 1 inclusiv ve. through..suitable adjustable and ,yielding ...dirivinggmechanism which .will,nowbedesoribed I'Ehe shaft.,58 is provided;corresponding to the 4shaft 5.8,., and .uponths .is-mounted a pair of arms or leversyllirandill. The levers. 11.2. and 113 areprovided .Withipins 114 land `.115 'carryingthe `.coilsprings ..116 .fffor .pn1ling tlie .levers:towardv each. pt'her, said leversbeingJ freely. `rotatably .mountedion .the

slot 120`thru which passes a bolt 121 which is mounted in an ear 122 provided on the yoke-like member 123 which is pivotally connected with links 1211 by means of pivot pins 125, saidlinks' 12/1 being in turn pivotally connected by means of the pivot pins 126 with the ears 127 provided on each sideof the center line of the pusher block 37'. The bolt 121 is provided with a nut'l28 under which is mounted a washer 129 so that the bolt can be loosened if desired and moved along the slot 120 toany desired position thereof.` In this manner, the member 123 can be adjusted relative to the member 113 to any desired angular relationship thereto. Furthermore, by leaving the nut 12S loose, the member 123 can be moved by means of the handle 111 independently of any movement of the member 113 or the power driven mechanism. The member 113 is positively driven by means of the cams or eccentrics and the movement of the member 113 due totheaction of said cams or eccentrics will retract the blocks 37' or move them away vfroii'i the fuel feeding opening of the furnace. Means for adjusting the stroke of the reciprocable member 37' is provided which comprises a screw-threaded member 130 which passes through a screwthreaded opening in the member 112 andengages `with a stop lug 131 provided on the member 113, the member 130 being provided with a pivoted handle 132 for operating the same.

It willbe clear from the descriptionof the operation of the `previously described form that normally the springs 116 will move the jaws in such position that the members 130 "and 131 will be in engagement but that if any obstruction gets in the path of the block 37', the springsllG will yield and allow the members 112 and 113`to separate so that the cams or eccentrics will operate without moving the block 37', or without interference of the block 37' therewith.

It willalso be evident that by means of the adjusting bolt 121 operable in the slot 120, any desired position for the block 37' can be obtained, the adjustment by this means being finer thanwith the screw-threaded bolt-like member and notches or teeth in the other form of the invention previously described. The member 111 is detachable from the member 123 being removably mounted in a hollow boss 133 provided thereon.

It will be evident from the above, that in both forms of the invention pusher blocks are provided that hay be adjusted independently of each other or may be operated by hand independently of each other or by power without interference of one block with the other pusher block and moreover that in either form, when the power driven means is disconnected from the pusher blocks by either Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by United States Letters Patent is V1. A device of the character described comprising a pusher block, and means for reciprocatingisaid pusher bloclryielding under undue strain comprising a rotatable shaft, an eccentric thereon, a forked lever engaging said eccentricand an adjustable connection between said pusher block and said lever, said forked lever comprising a pair of relatively movable jaws, receiving said eccentric therebetween and means yieldably connecting said jaws together. f

2. A device of the character described comprising` a plurality of pusher blocks, means whereby said blocks are reciprocable by hand, a power driven shaft, and means connecting said pusher blocks with said shaft to reciprocate said blocks, said means comprising yielding4 means permitting rotation of said shaft without actuation of said pusher blocks when said `blocks strike an obstruction and a det'achable connection between said `yielding means and said blocks whereby said blocks are reciprocable either by hand or by power independently ofeach other.

, 3. A device of the character described comprising a furnace having a fuel hopper and a fuel inlet opening below said hopper, pusher blocks for Vpushing fuel from said hopper through said opening, a power. driven shaft, and means connecting said pusher blocks with said shaft to reciprocate said blocks, said means including. yielding means interposed between said shaft and each vof said blocks for moving said blocks in fuel feeding direction, and non-yielding means connecting said shaft andblocks for, retracting said blocks, said yielding means permitting operation of said shaft and the remaining blocks when one of said blocks is stuck in intermediate or retracted position though still connected to saidfshaft.

L1. YA device of the character described comprising a furnace having a fuel hopper and a fuel inlet opening below said hopper, pusher blocks for pushing fuel from said hopper through said opening, a power driven shaft, and means connecting said pusher blocks with said shaft to reciprocate said blocks, said means including yielding means interposed between said shaft and each of said blocks for moving said blocks in fuel feeding direction, and non-yielding means connecting said shaft and blocks Vfor retracting said blocks, said yielding means permittin operation of said shaft and the remaining locks when one of said blocks is stuck in intermediate or re- 

